THERE will be a very poignant start to what has become a major charity golf event that has become a lasting legacy to a young man from Tenbury.

Tomorrow (Friday, May 6) golfers will tee-off at what is now one of the biggest charity golf events in the West Midlands.

It will mark the start of the charity golf day in memory of Adam Millichip, from Tenbury, who died in a tragic accident at work but who has a lasting legacy in the foundation that was set up in his name.

The charity set up in memory of Adam has seen the golf day at Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club develop into a major event in the calendar of activities where sport helps money for good causes.

Adam, who was 27 at the time, was killed in a tragic accident at work in 2007 leaving a young son.

This year, 58 teams of four will take part and it will be especially poignant when Adam’s son Luke hits the first shot at 6.55am.

Now in its seventh year, the charity has raised just over £50,000 just from the golf day itself. Overall, the foundation’s fundraising is approaching £100,000.

The foundation provides financial support and assistance to disabled people wishing to participate in sports to improve the quality of their lives.

It has enabled people with both physical and mental disabilities to get involved in all kinds of different sports and outdoor activities.

The ways of raising money for the foundation have been almost as many and varied as the ways in which it has helped people.

Throwing herself into thin air from 10,000 feet was the way in which Adam’s mum Sue decided to support the charity in memory of her son.

Sue Millichip, who was 60 at the time, set out to raise £1,000 in memory of the charity set up to help others in memory of her son Adam.

But fundraising does not have to be so spectacular and also includes smaller scale events like cake sales in and around Tenbury.

However, after so many years, the charity golf day is at the core of the fundraising and is now recognised as one of the biggest charity golf days in the Midlands.

Nearly 250 golfers take part on the day and it is a great value for money event for golfers of all abilities.

One of the reasons why the foundation believes that the golf day has proved so successful is that it not only gives people the chance to be outside on what will hopefully be a lovely south Shropshire spring day but also because the handicap system in the sport enables players of different abilities to compete with each other.

As well as a huge number of smaller donations, the foundation has also been able to attract corporate sponsorship.

This year the Foundation has secured a huge scoop by announcing a new main sponsor, Condor Airlines who are part of the Thomas Cook Group.

A ‘tented village’ at the back of the 18th green will also house a sponsors area where companies can showcase their products on the day.